Pittsburgh Becomes
An Unlikely Tech Hub

S AM LEINHARDT has a hot new technology for making Web sites work faster. But when he tried to bankroll the idea in Silicon Valley, he ran smack into a wall of prejudice.

The problem? "The P-word," as a top venture capitalist named Jim Swartz told him. Pittsburgh was simply too remote, too many hours by jet. Even though capital can flow electronically, board meetings cannot. "I'm waiting for you to come to your senses...